College Sports Blog

Back in August, the votes were not in for Baylor

WACO — When the Associated Press voters went to the polls back in August to cast their vote for their preseason Top 25 football team, the Baylor Bears were no where to be found on the ballot.

Heck, the Bears weren’t even mentioned in that “Others Receiving Votes” category. Even the Big 12 coaches picked Baylor to finish last in the South division.

Fast-forward to nine weeks later in this political football game, and the Bears are ranked No. 22 in the AP poll.

At precincts in Waco, undoubtedly the folks there believe what the Bears have been able to accomplish so far this year has been simply presidential. That’s what a 7-2 record, a family-type team, and sole possession of first place in the Big 12 South with three games to play will do.

“Right now it is probably the closest team that I have been on since I have been here,” said fifth-year senior free safety Tim Atchison. “We are all falling in love with each other and it is making it that much easier to fight for each other, because you actually love and care about the people who are next to you.”

Baylor, Michigan State, North Carolina State, Nevada and Mississippi State are the only teams who cracked the latest AP Top 25 or “Others Receiving Votes” list who weren’t on the list before the season started. The Bears’ ranking is a clear testament to the superb job third-year coach Art Briles has done in recruiting better talent and holding all of his players and his coaching staff accountable.

“You want to make sure you do your job every day, and that is something that we have had over this past season,” Atchison said. “Just consistency, and everybody showing up to work every day.

“I think it has a lot to do with the fact that everybody cares about each other that is on the team.”

If that caring about each other can translate to a win over 19th-ranked Oklahoma State this Saturday in Stillwater, Okla., imagine the election returns and how far the Bears will zoom up the AP poll when next week’s votes are tabulated. And if Baylor runs the table and emerge victorious in its last three regular season games against Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Oklahoma, it will surely be an historic day at the polls for the Bears.